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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Most people think it is the 4-letter words that are the most offensive, but it is really a 6-letter word that is the cause and result of many medical problems, relationship issues, and unhappiness in our life: S-T-R-E-S-S. Stressors (i.e. the external forces in our lives that cause an internal feeling of stress) are part of life, but what we do with those stressors is within our control. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress provides advice to manage your problems so you can be at your healthiest (mind and body).

The chapters are as follows:1. Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy2. Triumph Over Tragedy3. Killer Jobs - Stress and the Workplace4. Home is Where the Heart Is5. Preventing Monetary Meltdown6. Emotions and Thoughts7. Mind Your Senses8. De-Stress Your Lifestyle

Review: Although the format of this book shares similarities to other Chicken Soup for the Soul editions, it is designed to be a bit less about reading other people's inspirational stories and more on using some stories as well as practical information as a self-help tool so the reader can apply strategies to lower stress in his/her life. I liked the format. After reading a couple of real-life stories, the author, Dr. Jeff Brown, reflected on the themes present in the stories and provided tips for reducing stress.

As a therapist, I was pretty pleased with the information provided in the book. Not only was there a nice amount of information, there were some really great evidence-based tools and strategies for identifying and reducing stress. There are tips for focusing on changing unhelpful thinking patterns and taking control over situations. The book helps empower the reader to realize that you do have control over how you react to situations which help instill hope and empowerment.